Amelia 'Mimi' O'Connell (second from right) with the girl band on X Factor

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Liverpool X-Factor hopeful Amelia O’Connell is on the way to the judges’ houses stage of the popular competition.

Known as ‘Mimi’ on the show, the 17-year-old failed to get a place as a solo artist but was handed a life-line in a new girl group formed with those who didn’t make the grade on their own but still showed promise.

As a collective, “New Girl Group” impressed group judge Louis Walsh who gave them the final seat on his row of six successful groups.

Cheryl Ann Fernandez-Versini said their performance was “impressive”.

Meanwhile, music guru Simon Cowell remarked: “To do this in three hours – maybe there’s something special here.”

But they were put through a roller-coaster ride of emotion when the Irish pop manager then kicked them out – choosing another band.

It sparked a torrent of emotion from the girls, leaving Mimi in floods of tears as they exited the stage.

Then, just as they were heading home, Louis made another u-turn, this time agreeing to a “sing off” between New Girl Group and the boy band Overload and the energetic Pow Pow Girls.

The girls once again sung Keane’s “Somewhere only we know” putting their hearts and souls into the performance and were the battle’s winners.

As the show was playing on ITV, Mimi took to social media to tweet: “Words can’t describe how I felt when he said that", referring to Louis forcing them to say goodbye.

Later summing up their turbulent experience, she tweeted: “Stressful but worth it”.

Tears for Amelia 'Mimi' O'Connell before she learns her X Factor fate

Mimi and the rest of the band will now have to win Louis over for the third time at the judges houses stage of the competition.

This year the X-Factor is on three nights. Mystery surrounds what happened to fellow Liverpool hopeful Maria Ellinas.

The beauty queen from Huyton won a place at Bootcamp after giving judges a rendition of Randy Crawford’s Street Life.

She made Simon Cowell smile because she was pronouncing street life “shtreet-life”.

Maria was expected to appear in the over 25s section of the show but there was no sign of her on the three-days the show aired.

Fans on social media speculated as to whether she had left.

Mimi will be recognised by some as she appeared on The Voice earlier this year, joining Team Kylie and progressing to the singing battle rounds.

She chose to team up with Kylie Minogue ahead of interest from Kaiser Chief Ricky Wilson and "Sex Bomb" singer Tom Jones - despite her dad being a professional tribute act to the Welsh star.

Amelia said: "Kylie is so lovely. She told me to follow my dreams and give everything my best shot."

As a 13-year-old, Amelia sung alongside huge names such as Stevie Wonder and Barbara Streisand at a New York charity gig and received a standing ovation.

Her talent was spotted during a stay at one of Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall camps, which provide residential spells for children coping with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Amelia became involved with the charity after suffering from a heart defect which required eight hours of surgery when she was only six.

In her own words, she has been singing for "as long as I can remember."

Amelia said: "I was one of those little girls who never shut up. I remember we had a talent show when I was at Archbishop Blanch and I was only in the first year there but I won.

"That was the thing that inspired me. After that every chance I got I’d be singing – from the school hall to the cathedral concerts – I just wanted to sing.”